Fingerprint links Downey to murder of UDR men, court is told
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FINGERPRINT evidence allegedly links a 67-year-old man to a car bomb attack which killed two soldiers in Co Fermanagh in 1972, the High Court has heard.
John Downey is charged with murdering UDR members Alfred Johnston and James Eames in Enniskillen. He faces prosecution after losing a battle against extradition from the Republic.
Downey’s bid to secure bail was adjourned for more legal documents to be provided to the judge hearing the application.
The accused, with an address in Creeslough, Co Donegal, is further charged with aiding and abetting an explosion likely to endanger life.
He was detained in the Republic in October 2018 under a European Arrest Warrant. Since then he has fought extradition, but handed himself in to the authorities last week after exhausting all appeals.
A number of Sinn Fein representatives, including West Belfast MP Paul Maskey and MLAs Gerry Kelly and Caral Ni Chuilin, attended yesterday’s hearing.
Lance Corporal Johnston and Private Eames died in an explosion on the Irvinestown Road in August 1972. Prosecution counsel claimed Downey’s fingerprint was found on insulating tape used to construct the device.
Although the original impression has since degraded, photographs of it were said to have been used in “multiple comparisons”.
They included analysis carried on prints taken from Downey last Friday and also after his arrest at Gatwick Airport in 2013 for the 1982 bomb attack at London’s Hyde Park.
He had been due to stand trial for the murder of four Royal Household Cavalry men in the Hyde Park incident, but the case collapsed after it emerged that he received a letter of assurance from the Government that he was not wanted for any offences.
In court yesterday, however, the Crown lawyer said: “It’s the intention to adduce the fingerprints taken at Gatwick as evidence in this prosecution.”
He said the print taken last Friday matched that “on the insulating tape on the 1972 bomb”.
Bail was opposed due to the alleged risk of flight. It was contended the Enniskillen attack was outside the early-release period covered by the Good Friday Agreement — providing a strong incentive to abscond.
Defence barrister Michael Duffy said the fingerprint evidence will be contested as a potential abuse of process.
“Without that print one can see that there essentially isn’t any case against this accused,” Mr Duffy said.